[22][23] The settlement was originally called "Boone-Towne" in 1761 in honor of the Colonial Governor Thomas Boone.

[26] Boonton Township's recorded history began about 1710 when William Penn, the Quaker land speculator, located in the northern valley his Lot No.

In 1765 David Ogden purchased from Burnet and Skinner the Great Boonton Tract.

By 1758, his Rockaway Valley plantation within the Penn Lot covered 672 acres (2.72 km2), and it was on this land that the large Stickle, Bott and Kincaid farms were to prosper in the far distant future.

These founding families were closely followed by the Hoplers, Van Winkles, Cooks, Scotts, Peers, Stickles and Kanouses.

McCaffrey Lane, the oldest recorded thoroughfare in the area, was built in 1767 by Samuel Ogden of the Great Boonton Tract.

In 1822, North Main Street was "cut" along the proposed Morris Canal route.

In 1824, the Morris Canal and Banking Company was chartered with John Scott of Powerville, an important commissioner.

The Powerville Hotel, still standing, was built near Lock Number 11 to accommodate both canal and transient trade.

The hotel, owned by Nathan Hopkins, gained fame as a station on the pre-American Civil War Underground Railroad.

[30][31][32] The 2010 United States census counted 4,263 people, 1,575 households, and 1,150 families in the township.

[42] As of the 2000 United States census[15] there were 4,287 people, 1,476 households, and 1,157 families residing in the township.

[3][46][47][48][49][50][51] Patricia Collins was chosen in January 2020 by the Township Committee from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2021 that had been held by Michele Rankin until her resignation from office effective in December 2019.

[52] In December 2018, the Township Committee selected Brian Honan from a list of candidates submitted by the Republican municipal committee to fill the seat expiring in December 2020 that had been vacated the previous month by Robert A. Rizzo, who resigned from office; Honan served on an interim basis until the November 2019 general election, when he was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.

[57][58][59] For the 119th United States Congress, New Jersey's 11th congressional district is represented by Mikie Sherrill (D, Montclair).

[61] For the 2024-2025 session, the 25th legislative district of the New Jersey Legislature is represented in the State Senate by Anthony M. Bucco (R, Boonton Township) and in the General Assembly by Christian Barranco (R, Jefferson Township) and Aura K. Dunn (R, Mendham Borough).

[63] Actual day-to-day operation of departments is supervised by County Administrator Deena Leary.